Jack Kevorkian Dead: Assisted Suicide Advocate Dies At Age 83

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/dr-death-jack-kevorkian-dies-at-age-83/2010/12/03/AGhktuHH_story.html

I don't really have an opinion on the matter of assisted suicide, but I want to see OT's opinion.:P

A great, great man who is one of the greatest humanitarians ever.

People talk about Mother Teresa for her ability to bring comfort to the sick, well Kevorkian did more in his lifetime to comfort the sick and give people back their dignity.

I wish these existed.

Don't know why, but I was expecting some kind of irony in his death. I was also expecting purely respectful obituary-styIe blurb. This was actually fairly impartial inasfar as it talked about the way his campaigning set back the movement. I love this quote:

"I think Jack Kevorkian was like a flare on the battlefield - he lit up the issue and everyone paid attention," Caplan said. "He got to absolute center stage, but he didn't have the nuance to take it forward the way he wanted to."

Still, it's the only name I know to associate with compassionate euthanasia, so RIP, Jack.

Well, as much as I am against suicide (just in general, because taking your own life is a cowards way out imo), he did try to end peoples' suffering in the most humane way possible. I definitely wouldn't want to suffer with a painful illness thats just killing me slowly, soI can understand the need for the work he did. Its a shame he's gone.

unfortunate but atleast his cause was a good one

A great, great man who is one of the greatest humanitarians ever.

People talk about Mother Teresa for her ability to bring comfort to the sick, well Kevorkian did more in his lifetime to comfort the sick and give people back their dignity.

Jaysonguy

I was under the impression that he was a murderer.

[QUOTE="Jaysonguy"]

A great, great man who is one of the greatest humanitarians ever.

People talk about Mother Teresa for her ability to bring comfort to the sick, well Kevorkian did more in his lifetime to comfort the sick and give people back their dignity.

MrGeezer

I was under the impression that he was a murderer.

I think I was more bummed when I realized that they stripped away his practice and license back in the day, but this still sucks.

He did a great service to people who desperately needed his help. It's a shame euthanasia isn't as popular as it should be in this day and age.

[QUOTE="Jaysonguy"]

A great, great man who is one of the greatest humanitarians ever.

People talk about Mother Teresa for her ability to bring comfort to the sick, well Kevorkian did more in his lifetime to comfort the sick and give people back their dignity.

MrGeezer

I was under the impression that he was a murderer.

I think I was more bummed when I realized that they stripped away his practice and license back in the day, but this still sucks.

He did a great service to people who desperately needed his help. It's a shame euthanasia isn't as popular as it should be in this day and age.

starfox15

Euthanasia unfortunately has a black history that peopel instantly connect with things like the Nazi regime.

I honestly don't have a opinion on him... On one hand I don't see my self being capable of doing a assisted suicide on any one.. While on the other hand who the hell am I to deny a person that is suffering from a dibilitiating and painful condition that is slowly killing you? Its awfuly nice making that judgement when your sitting in your nice air conditioned room in good health not having to feel your body slowly disolve with intense pain every day.. sSubZerOo

My opinion of the guy has nothing to do with my stance on assisted suicide. He didn't go to prison for assisted suicide, he went to prison for actively committing murder. He spent years doing this without a medical license and without anyone reviewing his procedures and methods, and there are reports that on multiple occasions he'd try to talk people into going through with it.

I can support assisted suicide without supporting Jack Kevorkian.

[QUOTE="MrGeezer"]

[QUOTE="Jaysonguy"]

A great, great man who is one of the greatest humanitarians ever.

People talk about Mother Teresa for her ability to bring comfort to the sick, well Kevorkian did more in his lifetime to comfort the sick and give people back their dignity.

DavidianMH

I was under the impression that he was a murderer.

So...he didn't get convicted of murder?

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]I honestly don't have a opinion on him... On one hand I don't see my self being capable of doing a assisted suicide on any one.. While on the other hand who the hell am I to deny a person that is suffering from a dibilitiating and painful condition that is slowly killing you? Its awfuly nice making that judgement when your sitting in your nice air conditioned room in good health not having to feel your body slowly disolve with intense pain every day.. MrGeezer

My opinion of the guy has nothing to do with my stance on assisted suicide. He didn't go to prison for assisted suicide, he went to prison for actively committing murder. He spent years doing this without a medical license and without anyone reviewing his procedures and methods, and there are reports that on multiple occasions he'd try to talk people into going through with it.

I can support assisted suicide without supporting Jack Kevorkian.

.. Yet he was only convicted for 2nd degree murder.. And it was only 1 count at that I believe.

[QUOTE="starfox15"]

I think I was more bummed when I realized that they stripped away his practice and license back in the day, but this still sucks.

He did a great service to people who desperately needed his help. It's a shame euthanasia isn't as popular as it should be in this day and age.

sSubZerOo

Euthanasia unfortunately has a black history that peopel instantly connect with things like the Nazi regime.

[QUOTE="DavidianMH"][QUOTE="MrGeezer"]

I was under the impression that he was a murderer.

MrGeezer

So...he didn't get convicted of murder?

Seeing as assisted suicide is illegal and seen as second degree murder.. This is kind of "No ****" obvious connection to make.

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

[QUOTE="starfox15"]

I think I was more bummed when I realized that they stripped away his practice and license back in the day, but this still sucks.

He did a great service to people who desperately needed his help. It's a shame euthanasia isn't as popular as it should be in this day and age.

kuraimen

Euthanasia unfortunately has a black history that peopel instantly connect with things like the Nazi regime.

The irony is life isn't treated as sacred.. Two of the greatest genocides in the past 20 years, Darfur and Rwanda, was brushed under the carpet and ignored.

Well I'll be a monkey's uncle... Wait, no I won't. That totally does not surprise me.

Seeing as assisted suicide is illegal and seen as second degree murder.. This is kind of "No ****" obvious connection to make.

sSubZerOo

Kevorkian administered the injection. NOT the patient. It was NOT "assisted suicide" at all, it was murder.

Why else do you think they only got him on one count of murder, despite ample proof that he'd been performing "assisted suicides" for years?

Final statline: 0 points, 0 rebounds, 130 assists :3. In all seriousness though can't say I have a problem with anything I did, though some of the worship seems a little extreme.

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

Seeing as assisted suicide is illegal and seen as second degree murder.. This is kind of "No ****" obvious connection to make.

MrGeezer

Kevorkian administered the injection. NOT the patient. It was NOT "assisted suicide" at all, it was murder.

Why else do you think they only got him on one count of murder, despite ample proof that he'd been performing "assisted suicides" for years?

.. If there was ample proof why wasn't enough to convict him? Clealry there wasn't.. This isn't defending the man, I personally have a pretty colorless opinion of him.. But I don't think its fair to start plastering him with such stuff when it was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt.. Innocent til proven guilty right?

Meh...everybody dies. I think that was the point of his life anyways.mattykovax

[QUOTE="kuraimen"][QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

Euthanasia unfortunately has a black history that peopel instantly connect with things like the Nazi regime.

sSubZerOo

The irony is life isn't treated as sacred.. Two of the greatest genocides in the past 20 years, Darfur and Rwanda, was brushed under the carpet and ignored.

.. If there was ample proof why wasn't enough to convict him? Clealry there wasn't.. This isn't defending the man, I personally have a pretty colorless opinion of him.. But I don't think its fair to start plastering him with such stuff when it was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt.. Innocent til proven guilty right?

sSubZerOo

He WAS proven guilty of murder. A jury DID convict him, and he spent several years in prison for it. The conviction was never overturned.

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

.. If there was ample proof why wasn't enough to convict him? Clealry there wasn't.. This isn't defending the man, I personally have a pretty colorless opinion of him.. But I don't think its fair to start plastering him with such stuff when it was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt.. Innocent til proven guilty right?

MrGeezer

He WAS proven guilty of murder. A jury DID convict him, and he spent several years in prison for it. The conviction was never overturned.

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

.. If there was ample proof why wasn't enough to convict him? Clealry there wasn't.. This isn't defending the man, I personally have a pretty colorless opinion of him.. But I don't think its fair to start plastering him with such stuff when it was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt.. Innocent til proven guilty right?

MrGeezer

He WAS proven guilty of murder. A jury DID convict him, and he spent several years in prison for it. The conviction was never overturned.

For 1 count.. Not everything else your stating.

[QUOTE="mattykovax"]Meh...everybody dies. I think that was the point of his life anyways.scorch-62

For 1 count.. Not everything else your stating.

sSubZerOo

Are you claiming that there is doubt as to whether or not Jack Kevorkian actually performed assisted suicides?

Are you trying to tell me that, aside from the one guy for whose murder he was convicted, that there's no compelling evidence that Kevorkian helped anyone to end their lives?

[QUOTE="Jaysonguy"]

A great, great man who is one of the greatest humanitarians ever.

People talk about Mother Teresa for her ability to bring comfort to the sick, well Kevorkian did more in his lifetime to comfort the sick and give people back their dignity.

MrGeezer

I was under the impression that he was a murderer.

its kinda like sex... if she wants it, its love making.... if its forced, its rape.

I'm quite sure The Hemlock Society will mourn his death appropriately,Allicrombie

[QUOTE="DavidianMH"][QUOTE="MrGeezer"]

I was under the impression that he was a murderer.

MrGeezer

So...he didn't get convicted of murder?

He was tried for murder several times. And aquitted several times. Finally he was charged with murder once again. Difference was this time he got cocky, believing that no jury would convict him, and decided to save himself the money for a lawyer and defend himself. As the saying goes: the man who acts as his own lawyer has a fool for a client.

[QUOTE="MrGeezer"]

[QUOTE="Jaysonguy"]

A great, great man who is one of the greatest humanitarians ever.

People talk about Mother Teresa for her ability to bring comfort to the sick, well Kevorkian did more in his lifetime to comfort the sick and give people back their dignity.

weezyfb

I was under the impression that he was a murderer.

Agreed, I don't agree with his actions but I respect the fact that he fought for his cause and brought it to attention.Proobie44

If anything, I think he hurt his cause. There are a lot of people who support the cause in a legal and socially responsible way. Whereas Kevorkian did this for years with no medical license and no oversight, while daring people to try to stop him.

[QUOTE="MrGeezer"]

[QUOTE="DavidianMH"] No... he wasn't.... worlock77

So...he didn't get convicted of murder?

He was tried for murder several times. And aquitted several times. Finally he was charged with murder once again. Difference was this time he got cocky, believing that no jury would convict him, and decided to save himself the money for a lawyer and defend himself. As the saying goes: the man who acts as his own lawyer has a fool for a client.

I believe there was at least another difference. This time he had also shown video of one of the procedures, specifically video of himself performing the injection.